Causes of Conflict, Cognitive Bias, Commercial Mediation, Europe, Ireland, Mediation Practice, peace negotiations, Reflective practise, Russia, Scotland

(Core Solutions Group)/ /2 Comments

I am travelling back from a couple of days in and around Dublin, discussing an initiative on respectful political dialogue with politicians, academics and conflict resolution professionals. It was a privilege to spend time at Glencree, the centre for peace and reconciliation which was one of those places where so much was done in recent…

Causes of Conflict, Cross-cultural, Decision making, Dialogue, General, Mediation and Society

(NZ Centre for ICT Law & School of Law, Auckland University)/ /Leave a comment

This is another blog in the spirit of earlier entries along the lines of “what would you do with XXX at your table.” The challenge will emerge in the course of reading. Myth and metaphor, and the etymology of mediation, are amply available to convey the mediator’s task of steering between – or finding a…

Domestic Courts, EU Mediation Directive, Germany, Judges as mediators, Mediation Act, Mediation Practice, National Mediation Laws

(Bond & Bond Mediation / University of Wildau )/ /Leave a comment

The German Mediation Act was passed five years ago on 21 July 2012, after nearly all EU member states were required by a 2008 EU Directive to implement mediation legislation. I took the opportunity to talk about the Act and its effects with two experienced mediator-judges working in German courts. Anne-Ruth Moltmann-Willisch has been a…

ADR, Commercial Mediation, Corporate Counsel's View, Developing the Field, Dispute Resolution, Future of mediation, Global Pound Conference Series 2016-17, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), International Mediation, Mediation Users/Clients, Promoting Mediation, user perspectives

(Independent Mediators)/ /Leave a comment

On 6 July I attended the finale of the Global Pound Series held in London, the last in the series of events held worldwide to an audience of over 2000 over 30+ events. I will say now I am not a mediator, I know you are asking why did I get asked to write a…

Developing the Field, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Mediation Practice, mediation process, Mediation Users/Clients, Skills, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized

(University of Strathclyde)/ /2 Comments

This post riffs on Elvis Costello’s “What’s So Funny Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?” to probe the usefulness of the words “trust” and “respect” in mediation. Invitation Mediators the world over are taught to invite their clients to speak. We’re not there to tell people what to do; rather to ask them what they want…

Creativity, Developing the Field, General, Training, Young Mediators

(National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law)/ /Leave a comment

I have in previous entries (July 2012, July 2013, November 2015 and August 2016) written about a peer mediation initiative called the Peacemakers Conference. The purpose of the Peacemakers Conference is to teach 13-16 year olds how to resolve conflicts amicably in a workshop cum competition format. This year’s Peacemakers Conference was held from 19…

Accreditation, Appointment of Mediators, mediation as a career, Mentoring, Young Mediators

(Creative Resolution)/ /Leave a comment
Young Mediators Initiative (YMI)

As a spiritual junkie, I like to read empowering quotes on the internet. This one I like: “The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary”. Why? Because the road to becoming a mediator is a journey. Interesting, enriching, but sometimes this journey feels like an eternity. As you attend your first training…

Developing the Field, Future of mediation, Promoting Mediation

(Sabine Walsh Mediation)/ /2 Comments

In the next few weeks, my first cohort of Masters in Conflict Management students will be submitting their research dissertations. Meanwhile next year’s are beginning to think about the research topics. For me, this is terribly exciting. I get to see the results and outcomes of the research completed, and help the new students choose…

Business, Efficiency, Reflective practise, Scotland, Training, Transformation, Uncategorized

(Core Solutions Group)/ /1 Comment

About twelve months ago, I reluctantly attended a seminar in a classy hotel in London. A friend had encouraged me to go. I turned up rather late, missing the networking breakfast. I got my iPad out and got on with my emails as the speaker launched into his presentation. I was fairly sure I would…

ADR, ADR Agreements, Arbitration, Conflict, Creativity, Football, Negotiation, Sport

(FORARB/Charles University)/ /Leave a comment

Minor sport arbitration was heading towards rendering of an award which none of the parties would have been happy about. And then, arbitrator proposed a mediation window and asked the football coach: “OK, then… What do you really need? Surely not the small amount of money you are claiming?” After a moment of hesitation, claimant…